Quick-release magnetic buckle



April 3, 1962 N. T. GRAY 3, 7, 7

QUICK-RELEASE MAGNETIC BUCKLE Filed Nov. 18, 1960 3,027,617 QUICK-RELEASE MAGNETIC BUCKLE Norman T. Gray, 2733 4th Ave, Sacramento, Calif. Filed Nov. 18, 1%0, Ser. No. 70,295 6 Claims. (Cl. 24-201) This invention relates to a novel quick-release buckle adapted to be incorporated in straps, garment belts, and weighted diving belts and the like.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a simple, efficient, reliable, and unusually strong buckle of the kind indicated, which, when its magnetically attracted components are engaged with each other, provides positive and full resistance to longitudinal displacement of the components relative to each other.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a buckle of the character indicated above wherein the components are easily, quickly, and fully separable from each other simply by pulling or pushing one of the components away from the other component in a direction substantially normal to the longitudinal planes of the components, one of the components being provided with a finger piece which facilitates such release of the components from each other.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an uncomplex buckle of the character indicated above, which is composed of only two easily manufactured components of unitary character, and which can be made in rugged and well-finished forms at relatively low cost.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form of the invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary front perspective view showing a buckle of the invention incorporated in a strap, such as a divers weighted belt, the components of the buckle being engaged;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 1; and,

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the components of the buckle separated.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the illustrated buckle, generally designated 10, consists of a first or outer component 12, and a second or inner component 14, both components being of magnetizable metal, such as steel, and one of the components being a permanent magnet.

The first component 12 consists of a flat plate, preferably of longitudinally elongated rectangular form, and having longitudinal edges 16 and outer and inner end edges 18 and 20, respectively, the outer edge 18 having fixed thereon and extending therealong a U-shaped strap attaching loop 22.

The component 12 is preferably of substantial and uniform thickness and has a fiat inward surface 24 in which is formed a longitudinal detent recess 26 which opens to the outer end edge 18. The recess 26 is preferably of uniform depth and has a fiat bottom 28 and parallel side walls 30. At its inward end, the recess 26 is bounded by a V-shaped inner end wall 32. The recess 26 is preferably uniformly spaced from the longitudinal edges 16 of the plate 12, and the apex of its inner end wall 32 is spaced from the inner end edge 20.

The second component 14 consists of a flat plate, which is preferably of the same shape and dimensions as the first component 12, and has longitudinal edges 34, and outer and inner end edges 36 and 38, respectively, with a strap attaching loop 40, like the loop 22, fixed on and extending along its outer end edge 36. The second plate 14 has a flat outward surface 42, on which is formed an outstanding or raised longitudinally elongated detent lug 44.

The detent lug 44 is of the same shape, depth or thickness, and dimensions as the detent recess 26, and is adapted to seat conformably in the recess and to be strongly held in the recess by the magnetic attraction of the components 12 and 14 to each other, then exerted. As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the side walls 30 of the recess 26 and the side walls 45 of the detent lug 44 are disposed at right angles to the recess bottom 28, but the surfaces 33 of the V-shaped end Wall 32 of the recess 26 and the surfaces 47 of the triangular outward end of the lug 44, are angularly undercut, so that the apex of the detent lug 44 engages behind the apex of the recess 26, as shown in FIGURE 2, while the plates 12 and 14 are engaged. This arrangement serves not only to preclude longitudinally outward displacement of the plates 12 and 14 relative to each other, by pull of straps 48 and 50 secured, as indicated at 52, through the loops of plates 12 and 14, in opposite directions, but to preclude lateral separation of the plates, Within the limit of the magnetic attraction of the plates to each other, except by forcibly pulling or pushing one of the plates away from the other plate.

Such separation of the plates 12 and 14, in the illustrated form of buckle, involves application of manual force to a finger-piece 46 which extends laterally outwardly from the first plate 12, at its inner end edge 20, and curves laterally outwardly and longitudinally outwardly relative to the outer plate 12, the force being applied in a manner to initially move the outer end of the plate 12 away from the inner plate 14 and disengage the undercut apex of the recess 26 out of engagement with the undercut apex of the detent lug 44, followed by full separation of the outer plate 12 from the inner plate 14. This arrangement, in the case of incorporation of the buckle 10 in a divers weighted belt, involving the straps 48 and 50, enables the diver to easily and instantaneously undo the buckle 10 and drop the belt, as in a sudden emergency, with a minimum of manipulation of the buckle.

The plates 12 and 14 are connected together simply by moving the detent lug 44 endwise into the apex of the recess 26, whereat the plates are magnetically forced together with the lug 44 fully engaged in the recess.

Although there has been shown and described herein preferred forms of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily confined thereto, and that any change or changes in the structure of and in the relative arrangements of components thereof are contemplated as being within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A buckle consisting of an outer plate and an inner plate, one of said plates being a magnet and the other plate magnetizable, said plates having plane facing sides which are engaged and magnetically adhered together, and strap attaching means on the longitudinally outward ends of the plates, and a lateral finger-piece on the outward side of the outer plate at the longitudinally inward end of the outer plate, the facing side of the outer plate having a longitudinal detent recess spaced from its inward end and opening to its outward end, the facing side of the inner plate having an outstanding longitudinal detent lug thereon similar in shape to and engaged in the recess.

2. A buckle consisting of an outer plate and an inner plate, one of said plates being a magnet and the other plate magnetizable, said plates having plane facing sides which are engaged and magnetically adhered together, and

3 strap attaching means on the longitudinally outward ends of the plates, and a lateral finger-piece on the outward side of the outer plate at the longitudinally inward end of the outer plate, the facing side of the outer plate having a longitudinal detent recess spaced from its inward end and opening to its outward end, the facing side of the inner plate having an outstanding longitudinal detent lug thereon similar in shape to and engaged in the recess, the closed end of the recess being undercut and the related end of the detent lug being undercut and engaged behind the closed end of the recess.

3. A buckle consisting of an outer plate and an inner plate, one of said plates being a magnet and the other plate magnetizable, said plates having plane facing sides which are engaged and magnetically adhered together, and strap attaching means on the longitudinally outward ends of the plates, and a lateral finger-piece on the outward side of the outer plate at the longitudinally inward end of the outer plate, the facing side of the outer plate having a longitudinal detent recess spaced from its inward end and opening to its outward end, the facing side of the inner plate having an outstanding longitudinal detent lug thereon similar in shape to and engaged in the recess, the closed end of the recess being undercut and the related end of the detent lug being undercut and engaged behind the closed end of the recess, the related end of the detent lug and the closed end of the recess being V-shaped.

4. A buckle consisting of an outer plate and an inner plate, one of said plates being a magnet and the other plate magnetizable, said plates having plane facing sides which are engaged and magnetically adhered together, and strap attaching means on the longitudinally outward ends of the plates, and a lateral finger-piece on the outward side of the outer plate at the longitudinally inward end of the outer plate, the facing side of the outer plate having a longitudinal detent recess spaced from its inward end and opening to its outward end, the facing side of the inner plate having an outstanding longitudinal detent lug thereon similar in shape to and engaged in the recess, the closed end of the recess being undercut and the related end of the detent lug being undercut and engaged behind 4 the closed end of the recess, the detent lug and the recess being of the same depth and dimensions.

5. In a buckle, an outer plate, an inner plate, one of said plates being magnetic and the other magnetizable, said plates having plane facing surfaces, said plates having longitudinally inward and outward ends, the facing surface of one plate having a longitudinal recess having a closed inner end and an open outer end at the longitudinally outward end of the plate, the facing surface of the other plate having thereon a longitudinal lug projecting laterally therefrom, said lug being substantially the same shape as said recess and extending longitudinally outwardly from the inner end of said other plate, said lug being engaged in the recess with the facing surfaces of the plates engaged.

6. In a buckle, an outer plate, an inner plate, one of said plates being magnetic and the other magnetizable, said plates having plane facing surfaces, said plates having longitudinally inward and outward ends, the facing surface of one plate having a longitudinal recess having a closed inner end and an open outer end at the longitudinally outward end of the plate, the facing surface of the other plate having thereon a longitudinal lug projecting laterally therefrom, said lug being substantially the same shape as said recess and extending longitudinally outwardly from the inner end of said other plate, said lug being engaged in the recess with the facing surfaces of the plates engaged, said plates having strap attaching loops on their longitudinally outward ends, and a lateral fingerpiece on the outer side of the outer plate at the longitudinally outward end thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,266,936 Strauss Dec. 23, 1941 2,397,931 Ellis Apr. 9, 1946 2,515,757 Browner July 18, 1950 2,648,884 Loofboro Aug. 18, 1953 2,654,929 Feibelman Oct. 13, 1953 2,673,755 Asp Mar. 30, 1954 

